p.4 #2 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
DGC1 wrote:
Can someone, without emotion or smart remarks, please explain what using the AF On button does that using the shutter release does not do?
AF-On decouples focusing and shutter release.
Here's an analogy:
Using shutter release only = cashier scans item, stops, and bags your groceries all by himself
Using AF-On + shutter release = cashier continues to scan items while another guy puts your stuff in the bag
p.4 #3 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
DontShoot wrote:
AF-On decouples focusing and shutter release.
Here's an analogy:
Using shutter release only = cashier scans item, stops, and bags your groceries all by himself
Using AF-On + shutter release = cashier continues to scan items while another guy puts your stuff in the bag
...and Andre's AF-Lock is where you tell the cashier to stop scanning, bag some items, and continue scanning afterwards
p.4 #7 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
playerofwar wrote:
Check the back of your camera .
It's to use the AF-ON button instead of the shutter button to activate autofocus. So pressing the shutterbutton won't engage autofocus. It gives you more precision on when to autofocus.
And YES I love it, thanks to you guys here I discovered it!
Really nice to use on bodies like my D800e, don't like it as much on the D7000. (button is not placed very well)
Ok, got it. Thanks. Yes, I liked using that feature on my Canon 5D.
p.4 #9 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
The idea of using AF-LOCK seems more appealing than AF-ON. But only if it takes a single button push to lock the AF. I don't want to have to hold the button down. However, it wasn't completely obvious to me which way it works. Can someone explain / confirm?
Thanks.
Apr 30, 2013 at 11:18 PM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.4 #10 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
ucphotog wrote:
The idea of using AF-LOCK seems more appealing than AF-ON. But only if it takes a single button push to lock the AF. I don't want to have to hold the button down. However, it wasn't completely obvious to me which way it works. Can someone explain / confirm?
Thanks.
You have to hold the AF-lock button down to make it work. Same goes for the AF-On.
p.4 #11 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
Andre Labonte wrote:
You have to hold the AF-lock button down to make it work. Same goes for the AF-On.
You don't need to hold the AF-On down to make it work, you do need to press it to set the focus and then release the button. You can then re-compose and shoot without losing focus.
p.4 #12 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
Using AF-Lock is not as versatile or simple as using AF-On. Plus, you lose the ability to use AE-Lock.....but, whatever floats your boat.
Scott
May 01, 2013 at 03:27 AM
Andre Labonte Offline • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.4 #13 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
James R wrote:
You don't need to hold the AF-On down to make it work, you do need to press it to set the focus and then release the button. You can then re-compose and shoot without losing focus.
IF your subject is static ... if not, you have to hold the AF-ON button down to keep tracking focus.
p.4 #14 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
afm901 wrote:
Using AF-Lock is not as versatile or simple as using AF-On.
User 1: I THINK [PREFERENCE] IS GREAT
User 2: NO, [DIFFERENT PREFERENCE] IS BETTER. [PREFERENCE] IS THE STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD OF.
User 1: [DIFFERENT PREFERENCE] IS LAME, IT CAN'T DO [THING].
User 2: WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO DO [THING] WHEN YOU CAN DO [DIFFERENT THING]??
...sigh.
Last I checked, we don't all photograph the same subjects. Maybe both ways are valid and equally good for different uses or preferences? Perhaps?
p.4 #17 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
Andre Labonte wrote:
IF your subject is static ... if not, you have to hold the AF-ON button down to keep tracking focus.
Didn't read a mention of focus tracking in your response. I shoot surfing using 51pt 3D, CH and AF-ON, which does require holding the AF-ON throughout the machine gun. That is much different than shooting Uncle Bob sitting at picnic table jamming a hot dog in his mouth.
p.4 #18 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
I love the control of using the AF-on. What I hate is the fact that nobody else (meaning non-photog friends and family) knows how to use it! Everytime I hand my camera to someone for a family picture it's the same juggle... "just put the box on my face and push this button to focus..." about 50% keepers I'd say.
p.4 #19 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
Tried it for the first time last night on my D7100. Not bad. Don't dislike it, but really don't have a preference ATM for either the dedicated button or the all-in-one shutter button. They both get the job done for me without getting in the way.
What I did notice, however, is that the dedicated button lets me hold the camera much steadier due to the grip the placement of my thumb created. I was able to get much sharper shots at low shutter speeds (around 1/8s) than I had before with my 35mm 1.8G, and the results were repeatable. Definitely good stuff there.
Also, I had the grip off on my D7100 at the time. Wasn't the most comfortable thing like that, with half my palm hanging off the camera. Putting the grip back on made everything better, though. Half of the blame was probably also on the inward positioning of the button (AE/AF lock) compared to a true AF-On button. At least it's a bit further out than it was on the D7000.
p.4 #20 · Oh, AF-ON... where have you been all my life?
Andre Labonte wrote:
You have to hold the AF-lock button down to make it work. Same goes for the AF-On.
Well, it is slightly different. Your method is saying: let the camera focus all the time and I'll tell it when to stop focusing by AF-lock. The AFON method is saying: I will tell the camera when to start and stop focus.
The first method is kind of like automatic transmission, where on flat ground, the car will go if you're in gear, until you press the brake pedal. The second method is manual transmission, as the car will not move until you put it in gear and press the gas pedal.
I live in up-state NY but I like Sam Adams if that works for you 
